India Chess Wrap, May 14: Praggnanandhaa and Gukesh see contrasting fortunes; Nihal jumps to fourth
R Praggnanandhaa and D Gukesh played out draws in Round 7 of the Grand Chess Tour: Superbet Chess Classic in Romania. However, their standings tell different stories. Praggnanandhaa currently shares the lead with three others on four points, placing him in a strong joint-fourth position.
In contrast, Gukesh is yet to score, marking a surprising dip in form following his triumph over Ding Liren in the World Championship. Meanwhile, at the Asian Individual Chess Championships, Nihal Sarin made a significant leap from tenth to fourth place after an impressive Round 8 victory over S.P. Sethuraman.
ALSO READ | 2025 FIDE World Rapid and Blitz Championships: Dates, format, prize money and key changes
Demonstrating precise calculation and sustained pressure, Nihal converted a promising middlegame into a comfortable win. He now shares second place with Narayanan Sunilduth Lyna on six points, firmly positioning himself in contention as the tournament enters its final rounds.
Vaishali draws with Tan
In the ongoing FIDE Women's Grand Prix, R Vaishali had a chance to move to the top of the standings in her Round 8 game against World Championship runner-up Tan Zhongyi, but instead settled for a solid draw. She now sits in fourth place, just one point behind Anna Muzychuk, who leads with 5.5 points.
Vaishali chose a safe approach with the Ruy Lopez opening and developed her pieces steadily. Tan responded with some sharp kingside play, but Vaishali stayed calm and defended accurately. As the match moved into the middlegame, the positions became simpler. By move 35, queens and several other pieces were off the board, leaving both players with just rooks and pawns.
The endgame was balanced, with no clear winning chances for either side. Tan looked for opportunities with her rook, but Vaishali held firm. After a series of repeated moves, the game ended in a draw. It was a well-played encounter with smart decisions and solid play from both sides. Tan is currently third with 5 points. The final round will be played on May 15.
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First Post
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Carlsen takes a brutal dig at Gukesh, Erigaisi after winning Norway Chess: 'I can outplay the kids'
Despite a campaign that was far from perfect, world No 1 Magnus Carlsen successfully defended his Norway Chess title on Friday, finishing ahead of world champion D Gukesh and Arjun Erigaisi. read more Magnus Carlsen made it amply clear that he still is the best player in the world across formats by successfully defending his Norway Chess title on Friday , winning the elite tournament for a record-extending seventh time despite a campaign that was far from perfect. Carlsen clinched the title on the final day of the elite competition in spite of being held to a draw by Arjun Erigaisi and losing the subsequent Armageddon playoff. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD Classical world champion D Gukesh, who was half-a-point behind the Norwegian ahead of the 10th and final round, lost to Fabiano Caurana to finish third, with the American Grandmaster leapfrogging him to the second spot. Also Read | 'Gukesh won't be favourite in World Championship match if…': Carlsen makes strong prediction The final result of the two-week tournament in Stavanger, Norway also gave a fair idea that the old guard is here to stay, with 34-year-old Carlsen and 32-year-old Caruana finishing in the top-two spots and 37-year-old Hikaru Nakamura finishing fourth after collecting a solitary point against Chinese GM Wei Yi in the final round. 'I might be back here next year' Carlsen, for one, feels Gukesh, Arjun and the rest of the young brigade, talented as they are, aren't quite ready to take over the chess world just yet, and that he can still 'outplay the kids'. And despite being highly critical of the Classical format in recent months and suggesting earlier in the tournament that his days in the format might be numbered, Carlsen hinted at returning to Norway Chess next year. 'I don't think I will be playing a lot (of Classical chess), but I am also not guaranteeing that I'm never playing a classical tournament again. I might be back here next year. I cannot be sure,' Carlsen said on the live broadcast after being crowned champion on Friday. 'At the very least it's nice to see I can still play. And it's nice to see that at least in parts of the game I can still be quite a lot better than the guys who are trying to take over," he added. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD 'I generally feel that I can outplay the kids (like Gukesh and Arjun Erigaisi) which feels good. It's good to see that at least in parts of the game I am a lot better than kids who are trying to take over,' Carlsen said in a separate interview with Chess24. Carlsen has been the world No 1 in chess since 2011, having won the World Championship five times starting with a victory over Indian legend Viswanathan Anand in 2013, before voluntarily deciding against defending his title in 2022 citing lack of interest in the format. He has been heavily involved with Freestyle Chess, a.k.a. Chess960, in recent months, having co-founded the Freestyle Chess Grand Slam Tour and the Freestyle Chess Players Club with German entrepreneur Jan Henric Buettner. Latest latest triumph at Norway Chess, however, indicates that he isn't done with Classical format just yet.
Hindustan Times
14 hours ago
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Norway Chess: Title No.7 for Carlsen, Gukesh third
Bengaluru: Magnus Carlsen was down to his dying seconds. The position was still complex, and he hadn't spotted a clear path to convert his advantage. With the clock ticking down, he had a pertinent decision to make. He had already been undone in time scrambles (read: Round 6 loss to D Gukesh) in the tournament. The world No.1 craned his neck to glance at the screen overhead – it showed live positions of the other games. The only player who could spoil his title hopes – reigning world champion Gukesh, who trailed him by half a point – was in hot water against four-time US champion Fabiano Caruana. Carlsen knew right away that settling for a draw against India's Arjun Erigaisi was the pragmatic call. It was enough to assure him the Norway Chess title in Stavanger for the seventh time. Minutes later, Gukesh sat at the board, gutted, his face turned away from his opponent, spectators and cameras. After being worse through most of the game, the position seemed balanced, though on a knife's edge — before Gukesh slipped up and Caruana put the finishing touches on a fine win with a brilliant fork: the white knight attacking both the Black's rook and queen. Gukesh – realising he was dead lost – covered his mouth with his hands in agony before extending his hand in resignation. He finished third, behind Carlsen and Caruana. The 19-year-old had arrived in the Norwegian coastal city with questions over his worrying form. He dispelled them with his tenacious, if lucky, win over Carlsen and a fine 4.5/5 performance with White, entering the final round behind the Norwegian world No.1. Carlsen's primary emotion on winning was one of relief. 'I've got to say I quite enjoyed the day today. I understood that there was a very real chance I was going to lose the game, but I was kind of at peace with that, and I was just trying to fight.' The manner in which Carlsen turned a position from worse to equal to winning with the Black pieces is a testament to his strength and superior endgame play. But with little time left on his clock to untangle a complicated position, he chose the prudent path of a draw. He went on to lose the Armageddon against Arjun with White, but by then the result had been rendered inconsequential because of Gukesh's loss. 'I'm happy that I managed to create a lot of chances and I felt that I generally played the best chess. But stumbling over the finishing line and winning by half a point after a lot of results go my way doesn't feel like (a statement).' Carlsen's self-deprecation stems from the impossibly high standards he's set for himself over a decade-plus run of absolute dominance. He stepped away from the World Championship after winning it a fifth time and has cut down on his classical chess appearances significantly, citing lack of motivation and finding preparation tedious and uninspiring. His Norway Chess appearance was Carlsen's first classical tournament since last year's edition. He seemed out of sorts after blundering to a gut-wrenching loss against Gukesh from a winning position and wondered aloud why he was still playing classical chess. He didn't lose any more classical games but appeared to be going through the motions and spoke about not being particularly driven to win the title. Having won, Carlsen said he was looking forward to his honeymoon more than the tournaments lined up. The father-to-be wrapped his wife, Ella Victoria Malone, in a hug as autograph-hunting, selfie-seeking fans swarmed him. It's not without reason that Carlsen is considered one of the greatest players to have played the game. His ability to own the big moments remains unrivalled. Even when he's not at his absolute best, he's a cut above the rest. Anna Muzychuk wins; Humpy third Ukraine's Anna Muzychuk arrived for Friday's final round needing only a draw to guarantee her at least first place. She had to have an eye out on Koneru Humpy's game against reigning women's world champion Ju Wenjun. Humpy needed a win to catch up with Anna in the lead but in an opposite colour bishop endgame, a draw was all that was on offer. Anna, much like Carlsen, won the title but lost her Armageddon game to Vaishali. China's Lei Tingjie finished second with Humpy third.
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a day ago
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Magnus Carlsen Makes History Again – Here's How He Won Norway Chess 2025
photoDetails english 2912263 Updated:Jun 07, 2025, 09:33 AM IST Magnus Carlsen Win Norway Chess 2025 1 / 8 Magnus Carlsen has once again proven his dominance on home turf by winning the Norway Chess 2025 title in Stavanger. This marks his record-setting seventh championship win at the prestigious tournament, solidifying his place among the all-time greats of the game. A Tournament of High Stakes 2 / 8 The 2025 edition featured a thrilling contest among the world's best players. Carlsen, Caruana, and Gukesh battled through tense rounds, with the leaderboard constantly shifting. Ultimately, Carlsen emerged victorious by a narrow margin, showing consistency and calm under pressure. Final Round Drama 3 / 8 In the final round, Carlsen drew his game against Arjun Erigaisi, placing all eyes on Gukesh vs. Caruana. Gukesh needed a win to tie Carlsen, but a last-second blunder in a balanced position cost him the match and the title, delivering a heartbreak for the young champion. Caruana Capitalizes 4 / 8 Fabiano Caruana took full advantage of Gukesh's mistake. His victory over the Indian prodigy pushed him to second place with 15.5 points, just behind Carlsen. Gukesh, who had a phenomenal tournament overall, had to settle for third after the costly final-round slip. Carlsen's Resilience 5 / 8 Despite a key loss to Gukesh earlier in the tournament, Carlsen bounced back with focus and determination. He described his effort as having to 'fight for my life,' underscoring the level of competition and his own ability to rebound when it mattered most. Final Standings Recap 6 / 8 The final leaderboard reflected the fierce competition: Carlsen at the top with 16 points, followed by Caruana (15.5) and Gukesh (14.5). All three played exceptional chess, but it was Carlsen's composure that helped him inch past his rivals in the end. Legacy Grows 7 / 8 This victory enhances Carlsen's already legendary career. At 34, even after stepping back from World Championship pursuits, he remains a force in classical chess. His performance showed that experience and elite preparation still trump youth and momentum. A Champion's Statement 8 / 8 Carlsen's seventh Norway Chess title is not just a number, it's a message. He remains the benchmark in top-level chess, adapting, enduring, and executing with brilliance. In 2025, the crown in Stavanger still belongs to the King.
